Ads are nothing new, just this time, they came up with a way to try to get people to really read them - somewhat.  IMO, a trivial idea, but, maybe it's patentable.

Quote:But the love that consumers send Apple’s way could flag if the company puts into place new advertising technology it has developed. In an application filed last year and made public last month by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Apple is seeking a patent for technology that displays advertising on almost anything that has a screen of some kind: computers, phones, televisions, media players, game devices and other consumer electronics.

Its distinctive feature is a design that doesn’t simply invite a user to pay attention to an ad — it also compels attention. The technology can freeze the device until the user clicks a button or answers a test question to demonstrate that he or she has dutifully noticed the commercial message. Because this technology would be embedded in the innermost core of the device, the ads could appear on the screen at any time, no matter what one is doing.

The system also has a version for music players, inserting commercials that come with an audible prompt to press a particular button to verify the listener’s attentiveness.

The inventors say the advertising would enable computers and other consumer electronics products to be offered to customers free or at a reduced price. In exchange, recipients would agree to view the ads. If, down the road, users found the advertisements and the attentiveness tests unendurable, they could pay to make the device “ad free” on a temporary or permanent basis.

- Source: [NYTimes]

As for whether they'll stick it in their own devices is yet to be seen, as for whether they just anticipated someone else to come up with the idea...

Software or hardware based?

If it's software based, and it somehow gets hacked, they're screwed.  Ask for devices for free, hack them up, profit.

It says "the innermost core", which makes me think the intention is a hardware based solution, however these can be more difficult to implement than software based, so I'd imagine that actual devices would probably still go by a software solution...

(This post was last modified: 17/11/2009 05:31 AM by ZiNgA BuRgA.)

RIOTS!

Seriously, unless theres a really damn good reason why they should be there, there shall be RIOTS!! (Technological ones anyway :P)

(This post was last modified: 17/11/2009 07:05 AM by diego.)

TUXi Wrote:Anyone want to kill the Apple owner for making chocolatety products? (with an exception for Photoshop).

I mean, come on. chocolatety flash player, chocolatety os, chocolatety overpriced hardware. Give me a break dammit.

double you tee eff? You're massively confused.

ADOBE makes Flash, Photoshop.

APPLE make MAC OS X, iPod, etc.